West Java Governor's Bounty for Catching Muggers Draws Criticism
The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has criticised the bounty offered by the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, also known as KDM, for catching street muggers.
He stated that the task of maintaining security and public order, including involving the public in tackling mugging incidents, is the responsibility of the Governor and the West Java Regional Police Chief.
“That is the job of the Governor and the Regional Police Chief. There is no need for a bounty. The police’s advice that citizens ‘may act firmly as long as no one dies’ is a legally reckless message,” said Usman in a written statement received on Thursday evening (23 July).
He stated that the bounty risks legitimising acts of vigilantism on the ground.
Usman said it would be better for the Governor and the West Java Regional Police Chief to focus on their duties by increasing patrols, deploying integrated CCTV, improving street lighting in areas prone to muggings, accelerating response to reports, and thoroughly investigating networks of mugger accomplices and fences.
Usman noted that mugging is a street crime that frequently involves sharp weapons and has claimed victims’ lives in society, including police officers.
In his view, involving civilians who lack the skills or specialist training in security and public order is itself risky.
“However, the enforcement of security and public order remains the responsibility of authorised officers who have been trained to respond to such situations,” he said.
He also said the directive contradicts the basic principles of community policing (Polmas).
Usman explained that the philosophy of community policing emphasises preventive collaboration to identify and solve security problems together, not permitting citizens to carry out executions or directly punish perpetrators of crime.
Beyond Amnesty International Indonesia, criticism has also come from the Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
“A bounty like that should not be held because it will provoke the public,” said Yusril, quoted by detiknews.
With the current difficult economic conditions, Yusril continued, people could flock to prepare themselves, especially with the lure of prize money worth millions of rupiah.
From there, concerns have emerged that innocent people could fall victim after being accused of being muggers.
“If I may offer some advice, with all due respect to the Governor of West Java, a bounty like this should not be opened,” said Yusril.
Dedi Mulyadi launched the bounty for residents who successfully catch perpetrators of muggings, pickpocketing, bag snatching and other street crimes.
He said the cash prizes were deliberately prepared as an incentive to encourage the public to be more active in safeguarding neighbourhood security, not to encourage vigilantism.
Dedi said prizes of Rp5 million to Rp50 million will only be given to residents who meet strict conditions.
He stressed that perpetrators must be handed over to the police alive and subsequently named suspects by law enforcement.
The West Java Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Pipit Rismano, welcomed the bounty positively. He viewed it as a source of motivation for residents to participate jointly in maintaining security and public order.